When Love Heals - A Niall Horan Fanfic

Chapter Eighteen.

Sugarscape did an after-party for the film premiere at a nightclub somewhere in the city. The whole band were invited, although Zayn and Harry went home, not wanting to stay out.

Niall and Lydia had a great time, though. They had never really consumed alchohol in each other's company before, and seeing each drunk was a hilarious new experience for both of them.

Niall enjoyed it especially, though. A drunk Lydia was a dancing Lydia, and Niall relished it endlessly. She was out there on the dance floor, shaking her hips and flinging her arms all over the place clumsily. And the best thing about it was that she didn't even give a damn that she was getting weird stares. She just ignored it and carried on, and Niall found that maybe that was one of things he liked about her the most.

"Lyd, we should probably go." Niall chuckled as he tried to hold Lydia up. She was so drunk she had started to sway.

"No no, one more dance!" She slurred, but then Liam was there and he pushed them both into the waiting taxi, wishing them a happy hangover. To which, Lydia stuck up her middle finger causing Niall to burst into uncontrollable laughter as they drove away.

Back at Niall's flat, Lydia wasted no time in kicking off her heels before lunging at Niall. She attached their lips; Niall's mouth tasted of beer and mint. Niall responded immediately, his arms coming up to rest on her lower back as he was pushed into the wall.

"Niall," Lydia panted as she attacked his neck with kisses. Even in her intoxicated state, she made sure not to leave love bites since they would probably be plastered all over the news the next day if she did. "Thank you for tonight. I had a lovely time."

"You did?" Niall breathed, tilting his head back as she found his sweet spot. "I thought - I thought you might be terrified."

"Oh I was," Lydia giggled, leaning up so she could peck his lips. "I didn't exactly enjoy all of it, but I enjoyed being part of your world for a few hours."

For someone else, their partner saying they didn't enjoy an event might have offended them. But for Niall? That possibly meant more to him than anything Lydia had ever said. Because she had basically just proved that she wasn't in it for the fame. She didn't want any of that - she just liked Niall for Niall. And he was so happy to hear that.

***

The next few weeks were uneventful. Well, uneventful in some ways. Apart from the fact that Lydia had to get used to seeing her face when she walked past newsstands. It was surreal the morning after the premiere, her and Niall exiting the apartment building to find hoards of paparazzi standing practically on the doorstep, wanting exclusive information and new photos.

Niall was surprised at how well Lydia was handling it, though. Although she obviously didn't like the attention, she almost always remained calm and collected if Niall was right by her side.

Lydia was pretty sure all the unwanted attention was worth it, though. Her and Niall could now go on dates, proper dates, dates to random places like a sushi bar and the zoo. She enjoyed being able to walk around London with him, without fear that people who see and make up rumours of Niall with other girls.

One of the downsides was that Lydia's boss had asked her to prevent Niall from stopping in to see her at work, since they were getting more and more people coming in purely to see the popstar rather than to buy drinks. Niall argued when Lydia spoke to him about it, claiming that surely it was better for the shop if they were getting more business. Lydia laughed at Niall's defence, but made him promise to stay away.

The young couple saw each other as much as possible. Niall's apartment was probably bigger than the whole of Karen's house, and yet he was there almost every night to spend time with Lydia and Carmen.